Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Boris DiawHere is detailed information about Boris Diaw:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod
  • Nationality: French
  • Date of Birth: April 16, 1982
  • Birthplace: Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters)
  • Weight: 250 pounds (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 1 inch (216cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • Jersey Numbers: 32, 13 (Atlanta Hawks), 3 (Phoenix Suns), 32 (Charlotte Bobcats), 33 (San Antonio Spurs), 33 (Utah Jazz)
  • High School: Information not publicly available
  • College: Did not attend college; began professional career in France
  • Professional Debut: 2001 with Pau-Orthez in France
  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the 21st overall pick in the 1st round of the 2003 NBA Draft
  • NBA Teams:
    • Atlanta Hawks (2003–2005)
    • Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
    • Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2012)
    • San Antonio Spurs (2012–2016)
    • Utah Jazz (2016–2017)
  • Career Highlights:
    • NBA Champion (2014) with the San Antonio Spurs
    • NBA Most Improved Player (2006)
    • French League Champion (2001, 2003)
    • French Cup Winner (2002, 2003)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (2014 NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs)
  • Personal Life:
    • Parents:
      • Mother: Élisabeth Riffiod, a former professional basketball player for the French national team
      • Father: Issa Diaw, a former Senegalese high jump champion
    • Siblings:
      • Brother: Martin Diaw
      • Half-brother: Paco Diaw
    • Children: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Boris Diaw was the rare point forward / connective big, a multi-skilled frontcourt piece whose game revolved around feel, versatility, and decision-making more than raw scoring; defensively, he filled a flexible team role, using his size, positioning, and intelligence to guard bigger forwards, hold up in switches, and function as a solid help defender rather than a pure shutdown specialist; offensively, he operated as a passer from the elbows and high post, a ball mover, screener, and opportunistic scorer who could keep an offense flowing without needing heavy shot volume. Physically, Diaw combined a sturdy 6-foot-8, 250-pound frame with unusual coordination and touch for a player his size, which is a big reason he could credibly play multiple positions. In practice, his style was cerebral and unselfish: he linked possessions together, made quick reads, defended across roles, and gave lineups value through versatility, passing, and overall basketball IQ. (NBA)

Sources: NBA.com — Boris Diaw | Center-Forward | San Antonio Spurs; Sports Forecaster — Boris Diaw Stats, Profile, Bio, Analysis and More; Grantland — Mon Frère Boris; ESPN — Boris Diaw’s unlikely arc of triumph